If it's really cold out, I preheat the car while it's still plugged in.

That's a great feature on a lot of EVs and PHEVs! Unfortunately our Fiat's telematics were only good for 3 years after the date of purchase, so we don't have any remote access. That said, just turn the key on and it starts blowing out heat immediately, even when plugged in. So I'll just go turn it on while I make my morning coffee.

Thanks for the responses. I knew that resistance heating was a power hog. I was trying to figure out if cost and complexity of the heat pump system was worth the added cost.

I use heated seats and steering wheels when possible and I am used to TDI taking longer to blow good heat than my commute is long. So preheating before I drive and only using for window defrosting and minimal heating is a realistic possibility for me.

I am constantly looking the ads for used eGolfs for a deal and this is a big deciding factor between possible cars.

Thanks for the responses. I knew that resistance heating was a power hog. I was trying to figure out if cost and complexity of the heat pump system was worth the added cost.

I use heated seats and steering wheels when possible and I am used to TDI taking longer to blow good heat than my commute is long. So preheating before I drive and only using for window defrosting and minimal heating is a realistic possibility for me.

I am constantly looking the ads for used eGolfs for a deal and this is a big deciding factor between possible cars.

Jason

I haven't really found any (what I consider to be) reasonably priced e-Golfs. Availability is low and prices are very high compared to similar EVs (Nissan LEAFs, used 500es, even some new Chevy Bolts (comparing new to new). keep your eye out though; the e-Golf is a good car and you get very nice VW driving dynamics.

I was trying to figure out if cost and complexity of the heat pump system was worth the added cost.

I don't see the heat pump as adding too much complexity vs. the standard A/C. If its just like a residential heat pump then there is very little difference between an A/C unit and a heat pump. Just a reversing valve and some extra refrigerant piping.

Of course....that said electric resistance heat should be more reliable than your car's A/C! And in my part of the world its a lot easier to live with a car with broken A/C than no heat.

with all the drawbacks of EVs I do not see how it is "better" than my current setup.

Probably because you've already made up your mind that there isn't an EV out there than can possibly measure up to your diesels, so you "cherry pick" reasons to confirm that bias.

In all honesty, I used to look at EV's with the same glass-half-empty view as well...that is, until one became my daily driver. Sure, EV's have their shortcomings but they also have their advantages - if you are willing to experience them.

Well I am not against them, but there absolutely is NOT an EV that is out there right now that can do what my TDI can do, so he has a point.

I can afford to put a measly $5 of fuel in a car to get to and from work every day. And this is a car that, all in, I have about $5000 in total, and have already driven it 140k miles, and will easily drive it 140k more, and it will continue doing what it does same as it always has.

When I can buy a used eGolf for $1500, have it go 100 miles a day or 700+ miles on a fill up whenever I feel like it, and do so beyond the half million mile marker, I will be first in line to get one.

As it stands now, such a vehicle simply does not exist. Even the mighty Telsa (which I do not like anyway) that costs more than my house cannot claim this.

In the future, if the technology improves, which I think it will, then you'll have a better chance of widespread acceptance. Cost is a big factor. Poor urbanites can afford to keep a clapped out 200k mile Sentra on the road, they can park it on the street wherever they want, and if they do not drive a lot anyway, the fuel/PM costs are negligible. Yet these are the "ideal" EV owners.

But as I have stated before, until the populace trends towards smaller, more efficient cars in general, it is a hard sell to get them to make the leap forward to an EV. If a Silverado is A, and a Cruze is B, and a Spark is C, then an EV is D+. We cannot get people to get past A. When people are at C in large numbers, and demanding more, then it will change.

Although, part of what Tesla's trying to do is come to, if not the Silverado owners, the X6 and GLE Coupe owners where they are, with an electric.

Agreed. And as Tesla's model portfolio evolves, the trickle down plan as it looks to be, perhaps the models that us mere peons could afford to buy will become available. However, by that time the other manufacturers will likely have more offerings and in some cases maybe less "goofy" ones at that. The electric versions of the Golf, 500, etc. are far more appealing to me as far as looks and ergonomics are concerned than the rolling 1980s video game Teslas.

Maybe Tesla will concede to more established normalcy in their future products, instead of trying to reinvent the wheel completely. At least their power window switches (which look to be taken from the ChryCo or MB parts bin) seem normal enough. Surprised they didn't put some touchpad on each door, LOL.

And, yeah, that is my biggest complaint about Tesla - they're designing for people whose primary interaction methods with technology are through touchscreens. I, on the other hand, pair keyboards to my phone because I like buttons.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Lug_Nut

The really cool ToofTek made "Emperor's Clothes" injector fork risers only worked until someone pointed out that there wasn't any thing there.

Brian, my dad drives to at least two power plants a day from Oakville. Labadie, Sioux, Rush island, or Meramec. He is putting close to 200 miles a day on his leaf. He hit the charging stations a lot but has yet to charge at home.

If Car Doc had a 220v plug for you, you could probably pull it off. Also, my dad’s most recent estimates range was 138 miles. I have the picture to prove it. He says they are pretty accurate. So even then you wouldn’t need to charge during the day.